Point adjuster for distributors



April 29, 1952 J. s. KERR 2,594,447

POINT ADJUSTER FOR DISTRIBUTORS Filed Dec. 28, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1INVENTOR. /AMEIS S. KERR April 29, 1952 J, KERR 2,594,447

POINT ADJUSTER FOR DISTRIBUTORS Filed Dec. 28, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 WIIf kl 29 a 24 FIG. FIG /0 176.9 22

...... .h INVENTOR.

JAMES s. KERR Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POINTADJUSTER FOR DISTRIBUTORS James S. Kerr, Cumberland, Md.

Application December 28, 1949, Serial No. 135,337

3 Claims.

My invention relates to point adjusters for distributors of varioustypes, especially where automatic spark advance units are used, whereinthe points may be easily and quickly adjusted without disturbing thedistributor head or lead wires thereof, thus saving time and labor andalso reducing the cost incident to making said type of adjustment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simplified means,wherein the points may be adjusted for clearance of an internalcombustion engine or the like, without disturbing the head of thedistributor and its component parts and thus rendering it possible toreduce this operation to a minimum.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means on the presentday distributors wherein the point clearance may be adjusted to therequired clearance necessary for the compensation of an eccentric motionof the rotor that is caused by the wearing of the shaft bearing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the accompanyingdrawings, and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a distributor;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a distributor with the cap removed;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view, showing the operating mechanism;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, partial plan view of the breaker plate;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detailed, sectional view, taken on the line Eli of Figure4;

Figure 7 is a detailed, sectional view, taken on the line 1-? of Figure4;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a "duplex adjusting y;

Figure 9 is a front elevation of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a plan view of a single set screw wrench or adjusting key.

In making use of the present invention, the aim has been to provide ameans wherein the points for various types of distributor heads may beeasily and quickly adjusted, without disturbing or removing the head orwires of the distributor proper, also while engine is running, insuringgreater accuracy in making this sensitive adjustment.

In the present type of distributors, the points are generally adjustedby placing the device on a testing machine, removing the head carryingthe 2 wires, loosening the points according to the cam faces of thedistributor shaft when the actual point is reached for clearance, theyare tightened, the head replaced, and the car is ready for moving. Nowin my invention, it is only necessary to attach the testing machinewires to the distributor in the proper place, take a key, unlock thedistributor plate, adjust the points, relock them and the operation iscompleted, this being done while engine is running, thus labor hours,time and confusion are quickly eliminated, and a greater accuracy inpoint setting and timing are achieved.

My invention goes further, my points are locked to the breaker platewith a single bolt, wherein the points can be readily removed in a quickand efficient manner and replaced, when such operation is necessary.However, the invention resides mainly in the provision of means attachedto the breaker plate wherein the points can be easily adjusted, lockedin their adjusted position, without disturbing the head and wires of thedistributor proper, and achieve the accuracy needed under actual runningconditions.

In describing my invention and referring to the drawings, the numeral 5indicates a distributor unit housing having a vacuum advance unit Ii, acover 1 provided with high tension terminals 8. a driving shaft 9 havingthe usual breaker cam l0 fixed thereto. There is also shown in thehousing the usual condenser l I, a vacuum advance arm l2, a breakerplate 13 to which is pivoted the breaker arm I 4 carrying the usual.

breaker point [5. A supporting plate I6 is removably and pivotallyassociated with the breaker plate I 3 as well as the breaker arm M, byvirtue of the element H.

The coacting breaker point [8 is secured to the inner face of thesupporting plate I 6 in the usual manner and the points 15 and I8,respectively, are in opposed relation so that they may be readilyadjusted for proper clearance and function.

The above description sets forth, more or less, the usual distributorhead and to clarify it more thoroughly there are also provided thefastening elements l8 to retain the cap 1 to the housing 5.

My invention is particularly directed to the supporting plate 16, whichis provided with an elongated opening l9 and an arcuated slot 20, thepurpose and function to be hereinafter more fully described.

The breaker plate l3, slightly beneath the openings in the supportingplate, is provided, as shown, with downwardly depressed portions 2| and22, respectively, and these elements 2| and 22, respectively, formhearings to receive therein adjusting mechanisms 23 and 24,respectively, wherein the points may be adjusted towards and away fromone another for proper clearance by the use of a proper key tofacilitate this adjustment.

It is to be understood that the bearings 2| and 22, respectively, may beriveted to the plate or secured thereon in any manner, either as a partof or separate therefrom, so long as they are made to properly supportthe adjusting mechanisms 23 and 24, respectively.

The stud 25 is arranged through the opening 19, which is loosely mountedin the opening as illustrated, and contacting the inner walls thereof,its bottom portion receiving the adjusting element 23 by virtue of thethreads 26 therethrough, so that by the turning of this member and byvirtue of the threads, said elementor stud 25 will be moved in the slot35 freely to move the plate 16 forwardly or rearwardly as desired toadjust the points thereby.

To cooperate with this adjusting element 23, the element 24 is providedto engage in a slotted stud 21, which is mounted through the supportingplate and breaker plate and the arcuated slot 20 and is retained thereinby a fastening screw 28. This not only retains the points in adjustedposition but locks them in the adjusted position and also facilitatesand provides a means wherein, by the removal of the element 23, theentire point structure, including its supporting plate 16 and arm Hi,may be quickly removed and replaced when it becomes necessary in theusual manner, therefore using same type of standard points.

The element 24 carried by this slotted stud 2'1 is first unlocked, byeccentric action is suggested but many other methods can be used, andthe elements 26 are adjusted by virtue of the movement of the head ofthe stud 25 against the walls of the opening [9 and by virtue of theslot 20 being freed for movement about the slotted stud 21. When thepoints l5 and I8 are properly adjusted for the required clearance, theelement 24 is tightened and the points are looked in fixed adjustedposition. a

The housing 5 is provided in its side wall with an opening 29 whereinaccess may be had to the elements 23 and M, respectively, by the properturn of the key so the adjustments, previously explained, may be made,and to cover this opening and prevent the entrance of foreign matter to.the inner working parts of the distributor there is provided a pivotedcover 36 for the purpose of closing the same when no adjustment isrequired.

The locking and unlocking of the element 24 and the adjusting of theelement 23 may be done in a simultaneous, single operation by the virtueof a plural adjusting key 3 I. This key has a plate 32 through which thekey-locking elements 33 are mounted. Each of the keys is threadedthrough the plate 32 and it is only necessary to operate the key inelement 24, either in a clock or counter-clockwise rotation, releasingthe element 21 and then adjust the points by virtue of the element 23 tothe proper clearance, relock the element 24 and the operation iscompleted.

It is to be understood that a single L-shaped key or any other type, asillustrated at 34, may be used.

It is to be noted that the aim of this invention is the provision of ameans associated with the Number supporting plate and the points of thebreaker arm and the respective plate may be easily and quickly adjustedwithout disturbing the distributor head. It also provides a meanswherein, by the removal of a single screw, the entire unit, includingthe breaker arm 14 and its points l5, also plate I6 with its points i8,may be easily removed and replaced.

It is to be understood that certain minor features and changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A point adjuster for distributor heads, including the combinationwith a distributor housing, a breaker plate mounted therein, a breakerarm associated with the plate having a breaker point thereon, of asupporting plate removably secured in said housing and to said breakerplate, said supporting plate having a breaker point thereon and providedwith an opening and arcuated slot and associated with said breaker plateand its arm, means associated with the breaker plateto permit movementof the supporting plate. and exterior means to engage said first namedmeans to adjust the distance between the points and additional means tolock them in said adjusted position.

2. -A point adjuster for distributors, including the combination of adistributor head, a breaker plate and breaker arm having abreaker pointthereon, the breaker plate secured to the breaker arm, of a supportingplate provided with an opening and slot removably secured to the breakerplate and having a breaker point opposing the first named point,adjusting means carried by the breaker plate, means arranged in the slotof the supporting plate to retain the points in locked or unlockedposition, and exterior means for unlocking the locking means to permitthe points to be adjusted for clearance and relocked without disturbingthe distributor head and wires.

3; A point adjuster for distributor heads, including the combination ofa distributor housing, a breaker plate and supporting plate mounted insaid housing, a breaker point carried by the arm, of a supporting platehaving an opening and slot therein removably associated with the breakerplate and in the housing, a breaker point carried by the supportingplate and in opposed relation to the first named breaker point, means toremovably retain the supporting plate in locked or unlocked position inthe housing, said means permitting the removal of said points andsupports therefor as a unit, and an adjusting means associated with thebreaker plate to permit the use of means exteriorly for unlocking andadjusting the points and relocking them without disturbing thedistributor head.

JAMES S. KERR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,267,671 Lang May 28, 1918 1,795,937Dorsey Mar. 10, 1931 2,205,074 Van Damme June 18, 1940 Hove Dec. 1, 1942

